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Challenges, Entrepreneurs, Goals, Implementation, Motivation, New Year, Overcoming Obstacles, Questions
This one question could make or break your business…
As an entrepreneur, I know how hard you work at and on your business. Sometimes it can be grueling and stressful, especially if you do it alone. And even if you have some help, it still can be exhausting and challenging. It’s mainly up to you to create a successful business and make money that will keep it running for many years. This brings me to the one question that could make or break your business… Before I ask you, I want you to think back to when you made the decision to start your business and make a go at being your own boss. What was the impetus that…
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Being grateful… Something a little deeper
One of the hardest things I ever had to learn (and who am I kidding – still learning…) is when you’re suffering from grief or a loss… How do you turn it around and get to a place of being grateful for the life lesson? What’s not helpful is to try to shove it under the proverbial rug, take a substance to forget about it, and try to shove it down and not feel it. Years ago, before I got into recovery, I remember telling a good friend that I wished we didn’t have feelings. That all they’ve caused me was great sorrow and havoc in my life. That it would…
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If only – a personal heartbreaking journey
My spouse Alice and I listened to Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart audiobook as we drove home from being away in Lake Tahoe for a week. And aside, I love listening to her books because it feels like a more intimate experience. She always adds extra stuff and talks to you like you’re in her kitchen over coffee. And repeats important phrases… (I will be doing a review of this book in the coming weeks.) While listening to her book, it sparked some interesting conversations, one of which was around the phrase “If only.” And another was one my Dad always said I needed to stop my “what ifing” myself… It got…
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Have You Dropped This Ball?
A few weeks back, I shared a story about our smoke alarms going off in the middle of the night. It prompted me to ask you, is there anything that’s beeping at you in your business that’s keeping you up at night? I had some terrific responses, and wanted to share one from Martie McNab, Show&Tales, who took this concept in a direction that I thought was worthwhile exploring in today’s email. She said, “…if we market our business like those fire alarms – infrequently, sporadically, and in the middle of the night, we won’t be known, liked, or remembered.” In the initial stages, when I interview potential dream prospects, this…
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Balance, Challenges, Entrepreneurs, Goals, Implementation, Motivation, Overcoming Obstacles, Procrastination, Productivity
Need a boost of productivity? I gotchu :-)
This might be the dreaded post here, calling you out on your productivity… Oh wait, that doesn’t sound good… apologies… Let’s reframe that – I want to inspire you with some ways you can boost your productivity. 🙂 How productive are you? Do you feel like you’re not getting enough done in your business? Could you use a boost? Or do you feel like you got it covered? It’s now November, and the holidays that are literally banging down your door won’t distract you from finishing up those last few projects, right? 🙂 Well, if you’re anything like me and have Cheryl’s holiday cut-out cookies, blueberry scones, best Thanksgiving stuffing muffins,…
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Getting That Phone Call That Might Scare You!
Have you ever had a day when you’re at your desk and really engaged with what you’re working on, and then it happens – your mobile phone rings? And if you’re like me with my somewhat loud ring, it scares the bejeezus out of me! And yep, just in time for Halloween – muahahaha. (Yeah, I know I ought to change that ring, but I just love that song…) Once I’m composed, I grab the phone to see who’s calling while that voice in my head says, “Oh my goodness, I hope no one’s died?” When I recognize the caller as a client, that voice inside my head starts…“Oh no, did…
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Balance, Challenges, Entrepreneurs, Goals, Motivation, Overcoming Obstacles, Procrastination, Productivity
What’s that beeping noise?
Have you ever been sleeping soundly, only to be woken up by an errant “beep,” then a few seconds later “beep,” and then a weird voice that you can’t make out screeches at you? By that time, you’re wide awake and jumping out of bed, wiping the sleep from your eyes – looking around, trying to figure out what in the heck is beeping and who’s squawking at you. The big question – when will it happen again? I’m standing in the hallway in my PJs, waiting for it to beep again so I can figure out where it’s coming from. In the meantime, the dogs are freaked out by the…
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Challenges, Clients & Customers, Communication, Implementation, Motivation, Overcoming Obstacles, Prospects, Questions
You are one question away from…
Not sure you’ve noticed that I’m kind of a geek when it comes to collecting information that I’m interested in. Especially when my curiosity overtakes me after I read a story about what someone did that was pretty fascinating such as Cyril Derreumaux. He traversed the pacific ocean in his kayak to reach Hawaii in 92 days. Or when Marc Andreeson set a record in California when he decided to buy the most expensive house in America for a $177 million compound in Malibu. What’s going through their head when they make these decisions? Or is anything going through their head? Maybe it’s just a deeply rooted feeling or an inner drive…
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Challenges, Coaching, Communication, copywriting, Entrepreneurs, Goals, Implementation, Marketing, Overcoming Obstacles, Product Creation, Product Launches, Taking risks
The Value of Having Another Perspective
Before I get into today’s topic, I wanted to clarify something from a reader about last week’s blog, “Taming Your Brain.” I had mentioned that if I hadn’t been meditating for many years, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize or be aware of my thoughts to start changing them and taming my mind. The beauty of this is – that it was MY PROCESS. It took me a long time because of ALL the things I let get in my way, like my issues with alcohol, stopping meditating for a while, and more. Then in the past six years of being in recovery, and now my addiction to learning…
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Alchemy, Attitude, Challenges, Entrepreneurs, Goals, Implementation, Motivation, Overcoming Obstacles, Procrastination, Productivity
Taming Your Brain
A bit of a heady mindset topic for this week. Stick with me on this brief journey into your brain and how we work on trying to change your neural pathways to form some fascinating changes in your work and life… Curious? Ready? Let’s go… For the past 20 years, I’ve been taking classes, studying, reading, and practicing meditation and mindfulness. From what I’ve learned – Here’s an example of how the mind works – You’re speaking with someone, and suddenly, something they said hits you weird, and you start to get mad or upset – some feelings start coming up. Do you stop at the moment and notice the emotion bubbling up?…
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Put Your Ass Where Your Soul Wants to be…
Been doing some soul-searching, reading, and connecting lately… That’s the gift of taking time out for me – and I’d highly encourage it. 🙂 It’s given me a better and even more interesting perspective of where my adventures in business will continue to lead and take me moving forward… No big surprise – it led me to this book – Put Your Ass Where Your HEART Wants to Be by Steven Pressfield. (Thanks to a wonderful new accountability partner.) He also wrote a classic for creatives – The War of Art. A different take on The Art of War by Sun Zhu. And I borrowed part of this for the subject of this blog post and exchanged…
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Are you unknowingly sabotaging your business?
I have an important question for you: Are you unknowingly sabotaging your business by doing this? Before I tell you what “this” is, let me share a story about “the fence guy… “When we moved into our new home in February of this year, we knew the fence was falling down and needed to be replaced. We had a glowing recommendation from a good friend who had this company put in a new fence for him. So we called him up and ended up hiring him. It would take him a while to get us on the list, which was fine. We were not in a hurry. The fence was…
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Best Copywriting Formula that will help you promote and sell anything
Since I’ve been in business, I’m always searching for the best tool that can help me be a better entrepreneur AND help my clients as well. Over the years, I’ve collected HUNDREDS of courses, books, tools, tips, techniques, mindmaps, formulas, and more. And I do LOVE sharing what I learn in hopes it can help propel you onto more success in your work and your life. As I’ve talked about many times, I’m in the midst of taking several copywriting courses. And a fun fact, while in Las Vegas, I got to meet and hang out for the day with Parris Lampropoulus, who’s a legend in the direct response copywriting…
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Letting go of this one thing will help transform your business
When I was just starting my business in 2006, I simply wanted to get my foot in the door somewhere. I needed new clients and was doing everything I could to get them. The biggest source back then was going to live events consistently and always connecting with my mentor and his group of colleagues. (Before the social media craze.) What alluded me was that I was so desperate for clients I could have been more discerning. It was all about the hustle and bringing in money. I had just gotten laid off from my corporate job, and we had a big mortgage, taxes, and a stepson to put through school. I was…
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Want some “magic” that will help you never to run out of content ideas???
This week I’ve got some music ear worms in my head. First, it was Olivia Newton John’s “Magic – You’ve got to believe in magic – nothing will stand in your way….” Then ”Do you believe in Magic” by the Loving Spoonfuls. Did you know that there are over 60 songs that are about magic?! I discovered this Google fact when I visited my Mom in Houston last week. When we heard that Olivia Newton-John had died, my Mom wanted to listen to some of her songs… This was when I went down the rabbit hole of magic, ear worms, and creating content… Just the word “magic” brings about all…
